PHP92-million emergency room upgrade set at CLMMRH

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – The Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH), a key Department of Health facility in the Negros Island Region, will begin renovating its emergency room next month with a PHP92 million budget allocated solely for infrastructure.

Addressing previous concerns about overcrowding, CLMMRH Medical Center Chief Dr. Joan Cerrada expressed optimism about the improvements.

The upgraded emergency room will feature more efficient space usage, replacing traditional beds with stretcher trolleys to improve patient flow.

The renovation aims to resolve long-standing congestion issues and enhance patient care.

“Our goal is to improve the hospital and ensure we serve the community better,” Cerrada said.

To maintain uninterrupted emergency services during the estimated three to four months of construction, CLMMRH is partnering with several private hospitals in Bacolod.

These include South Bacolod General Hospital and Medical Center, Riverside Medical Center, The Doctors’ Hospital, Bacolod Queen of Mercy, Metro Bacolod Hospital and Medical Center, and Bacolod Adventist Medical Center.

Cerrada said a memorandum of agreement will be signed with these hospitals, under which designated emergency beds will be reserved for referred patients.

CLMMRH will shoulder patient expenses during this transition, with support from PhilHealth, the Bacolod Comprehensive Health Program, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development when necessary.

Bacolod Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, after a recent visit to the emergency room, described the conditions as alarming, with patients lying on the floor and ambulances lined up outside.

He emphasized the need for clear coordination and guidance for emergency responders during the transition period.

Emergency services will remain centralized through CLMMRH’s operations center, which will direct responders to the appropriate partner hospital.

Simulation exercises involving the City Health Office, Provincial Health Office, and emergency responders across Bacolod and Negros Occidental will be conducted to streamline operations.

“In emergencies, time is of the essence,” Benitez said.

“We need fast, clear, and coordinated responses to ensure patients aren’t shuffled around.”

Focal persons will be assigned at each partner hospital to support communication and coordination.

Cerrada noted that more than half of the emergency room’s current patient load comes from Bacolod City.